When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

When Metal Isn't Metal

Given that the band came out of the Bay Area metal scene, it's not surprising Worm Ouroboros doesn't play metal. San Francisco metal bands tend to venture from common roots to disparate ends. In interviews, the members of Worm Ouroboros express their identification with metal on a national level, rather than a regional one. Jonathan Tuite, operator of local metal label Flenser Records, echoed the sentiment in an interview for this paper last year. Local metalheads, it seems, readily acknowledge the Internet's role in shaping genres and subcultures, but tend to downplay the importance of regional character. And since Bay Area metal bands share exploratory tendencies, the scene's principal traits defy generalization anyway.

For Worm Ouroboros, sparse drumming and sedated guitars contrast with plaintive and resonant singing; the band pulls maximum emotional impact out of sparse atmospherics. Occasional passages of clamor rattle these lengthy songs, but unlike the tension-awaiting-release of post-rock song structure convention, Worm Ouroboros' broad musical arcs feel narcotic and ominous throughout. It's a quiet storm, interior and contemplative, that insidiously coaxes listeners' attention, rather than reaching out to steal it. Worm Ouroboros' first local show in over a year will take place at the S.F. Eagle on Thursday, April 17, with Predatory Light and Lycus.

Canadian punk act Proxy nods heavily to Oi! bombast, with walloping, mid-tempo backbeats that propel anthemic guitar leads and gruff vocals through lengthy and uproarious songs. Laden with the imagery of combat and civil strife, Proxy's lyrics evoke the Arab Spring and America's self-righteous foreign policy amid dour and plodding rock songs. The band's name itself perhaps alludes to that classic imperialist ploy of waging proxy wars. And since Proxy plays protest music, clichés like "land of god... land of guns" are acceptable to listeners who nod along, brows furled in agreement, collectively indignant about colonialism abroad and inequality at home. From many turrets of outrage, Proxy fires volleys of invective at its enemies, who almost certainly don't notice. But this exercise, of course, isn't about destroying targets. It's about comforting comrades with theatrical battle cries and symbolically fighting against oppression around the world — and Proxy does it fantastically well. The band headlines the Knockout on Wednesday, April 23, with Crimson Scarlet, Ruleta Rusa, Apriori, and Fatigue.

Gun Outfit's third album from last year, Hard Coming Down, saw the Olympia, Wash., band shedding the 1980s college rock garb and exposing the bare essentials of its songwriting. Alternating between two singers, the vocals are refreshingly unadorned and high in the mix, as if to say, "Hear me clearly, I'm human." Lately, that feels revolutionary. The unfettered tones and instrumental separation illuminate the band's careful phrasing and nuance. It's breezy and mostly pleasant upon a cursory listen, but determined and confident nonetheless. When a vocal note falters, the members of Gun Outfit seem to draw strength from the accidental affirmation of humanity. Since Hard Coming Down sounds like a band playing live in a room, you might as well actually go see Gun Outfit perform at the Rickshaw Stop with the Men and CCR Headcleaner on Monday, April 21.

Slideshows

Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"